US Fifth Army

The US Fifth Army was an American field army that was active from 4 January 1943 to 2 October 1945 and from 11 June 1946. The army was created at the start of World War II, with Mark W. Clark commanding it; it was the first US field army to be activated outside of the USA. The army was not involved in the invasion of Sicily, as it was geared towards the invasion of mainland Italy; in late 1943, the army landed in Italy, first facing Axis opposition at the Battle of Salerno. The Fifth Army was a part of the 15th Army Group during its push through Italy, and it ended the war in northern Italy on 2 May 1945. The army suffered heavy losses during the war, suffering 109,642 losses (including 19,475 dead). The army was deactivated in October 1945, but it was reactivated in 1946 in Chicago and headquartered at Fort Sam Hood in Texas, later becoming the "United States Army North".